Hello all - We are hiring a seasonal undergraduate botanist for research assessing burning vs. grazing as management of remnant prairie in western Minnesota for the spring/summer of 2017. Please see the information below for details the position, and for instructions on how to apply.
Best regards, Jen Jennifer Larson University of Minnesota and Polistes Foundation, Inc. 1561 Lindig St. St. Paul, MN 55108 voice: 651-649-5042 fax: 651-649-5040 email: jllar...@umn.edu www.discoverlife.org **************************************************************************** Undergraduate Research Assistant University of Minnesota May – September, 2017. Approximately 40 hours per week. Pay rate - $12/hr Education requirement: coursework or experience in identifying prairie plants Initial application deadline: March 31, 2017 INTRODUCTION Given the obligation to conserve the last remnants of tallgrass prairie, much is at stake when management is applied. The goal of this study is to gain a better understanding of the implications of fire versus conservation grazing for managing tallgrass prairie remnants, both for the plant species that are favored, and for the butterflies and bees that these plants support. Essential Qualifications • Knowledge of methods, techniques, tools, and equipment used in botanical studies. • Technical knowledge of plant identification, including the ability to identify many tallgrass prairie grasses and forbs. • Knowledge of methods for collecting and pressing plant specimens; ability to use botanical keys and herbarium specimens to identify prairie plant species. • Ability to communicate well both orally and in writing. • Ability to use geographic positioning systems to locate established points. • A valid driver's license is required. • Field work will require long hours walking and working in open country and frequent bending and occasional lifting and carrying weights up to 20 lbs. • Most work is performed outdoors under variable weather conditions and exposure to insects and domestic cattle. Major Duties The incumbent will perform a variety of tasks to gather floristic data necessary to meet the objectives of a retrospective study to determine differences between burning and grazing on vegetation and insects on federal, state and privately owned remnant prairie habitat. The incumbent will assist the crew leader in collecting data according to standard operating procedures. Major duties will include identifying plant species and recording their presence in plots within pre-determined transects; locating permanent plots with geographic positioning systems; recording data accurately on data sheets; and, if time permits, entering data into spreadsheet files. The incumbent will operate University-owned vehicles, and travel to field sites throughout the field season. The incumbent will be reimbursed for all motel and meal costs while traveling, in addition to the pre-determined hourly salary. Specific duties include: 1. Summer monitoring (80%). Survey sites to assess plant presence and frequency in transects. Record data, help to organize travel between sites and coordinate with insect surveying team members. 2. Data entry (20%). Assist crew leader in data entry and analysis. To Apply: https://humanresources.umn.edu/jobs click the "external faculty and staff applicants" button search for #315395 (undergrad) We also would like to request a CV, 2 available references to contact, and a cover letter stating why the applicant is interested in the position. Contact Jen Larson jllar...@umn.edu or Karen Oberhauser oberh...@umn.edu with
